In a statement his family said they were "desperately sad" to confirm that Mr Ayley had been a passenger on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

The dog breeder had travelled to Europe with a friend to visit Rottweiler breeders with the hope of growing his programme in New Zealand.

Robert Ayley with his wife Sharlene

The statement said: "Rob was always passionate about life, there were no half measures. He was passionate about his family too.

"He found in his boys two little people he could love, understand and trust. When they cried they were sad, when they laughed they were happy and when they hugged it was because they loved him.

"He struggled to interpret body language and innuendo but he could understand his boys.

"Sharlene and Rob are soulmates. She is his 'Princess'. She changed his life and he changed hers.

"She held his heart and he held hers. Rob will live forever in his family."

They added that Mr Ayley "went out on a high", highlighting his sense of humour.

In a final email before he boarded the flight, he talked about being "ready to come home".

He wrote: "So yes, here we are. Last day in Europe. My flight is at 12 tomorrow. Right now, I'm just looking forward to seeing the boys and Sharlene. It's been a long, long journey.

"We've seen the world's greatest Rottweilers, we have established contacts, and made life-long friends, but now I'm just ready to come home."

A British charity is looking after a disabled child who is thought to have lost family members in the MH17 disaster, it has emerged.

The Percy Hedley Foundation, based in Tyneside, is a regional education and care charity working with disabled children and adults.

A spokesman for the foundation said: "We are caring for a disabled child whose family we believe were affected by the tragedy in Ukraine and we ask that people respect the child's privacy."

The foundation would not divulge details such as the child's nationality or age to protect their identity.

Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for the destruction of the plane but evidence is mounting that it was shot down by pro-Russian separatists using a sophisticated missile launcher.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of aiding and abetting the seperatists in the east of Ukraine for months.

Prime Minister David Cameron has described the catastrophe as an ''absolutely appalling, shocking, horrific incident'' that ''cannot be allowed to stand''.

A No 10 spokeswoman said: ''While it is too early to be categoric about the cause of the disaster, the growing weight of evidence suggests that MH17 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and that this was fired from near Torez, in territory controlled by the separatists."

The last two British victims to be named were John Allen and Andrew Hoare.

Around 30 officials, the majority from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, arrived at the crash site yesterday, about 25 miles from the Russian border, and were allowed a cursory inspection while guarded by pro-Russia rebels.

The United Nations Security Council has also approved a statement calling for a ''full, thorough and independent international investigation''.

Mo, Evie and Otis Maslin

Mo (12), Evie (10) and Otis Maslin (8) were on their way back to Perth with their grandfather, local businessman Nick Norris, after a family holiday in Amsterdam.

Nick Norris

Mo, Evie and Otis Maslin's grandfather.

Glenn Thomas from Blackpool

Glenn Thomas was a media officer at the World Health Organisation who was described as a "wonderful person and a great professional".

Elaine Teoh and her long-time boyfriend Emiel Mahler, both died on flight MH17.

Elaine Teoh, 27, was from Penang, in Malaysia, but lived in Melbourne, where she was a student, according to her Facebook page. Dutch national Emiel Mahler, Elaine’s boyfriend, was also a victim who lived in Melbourne.

Sydney Catholic nun and teacher Sister Philomene Tiernan

Monsignor Tony Doherty, parish priest at Rose Bay, knew Sister Philomene for 30 years.
"The first thing you think about her is an incredibly gentle personality ... one of those blithe gentle spirits that you never touch without coming away a little bit enriched," he told Richard Glover on 702 ABC Sydney.

Joep Lange

Joep Lange was a leading clinical researcher from the Netherlands, and a former president of the International AIDS Society. "How do we measure how much a person has done for humanity? People like Joep change the course of epidemics," a friend tweeted.

Albert and Maree Rizk

Sunbury couple Albert and Marie Rizk were due to return home today after spending a month holidaying in Europe. It has been reported the couple were not scheduled to be on the doomed MH17 but boarded after missing an earlier flight.

Regis Crolla

Regis Crolla posted an image on Instagram before his flight, with the comment "AMS --> Kuala Lumpur --> Bali."

Regis Crolla's flight details, which he posted on Instagram

Pilot Eugene Choo Jin Leong

Pim de Kuijer

Pim de Kuijer was Dutch and a parliamentary lobbyist for Stop Aids Now! He died on his way to an Aids conference in Melbourne, a journey "which typified his concern for others," his friend wrote for The Guardian.

Flight steward Sanjid Singh

Shazana Salleh

Shazana Salleh was also reportedly a flight attendant on board the flight.

Pathologist Roger Guard

Roger Guard was travelling with his wife, Jill. The pair, from Queensland, have been remembered for their "lifetime of service" to their community.

GP Jill Guard

Gerry and Mary Menke

Australians Mary and Gerry Menke were on their way home from a holiday when they boarded the flight. They are among 10 Victorians confirmed dead in the crash.

Helena Sidelik

Helena Sidelik was on her way home after travelling to Amsterdam for a friend’s wedding.

Martine de Schutter

Martine de Schutter worked for AIDS Action Europe,

Azrina Binti Yakob

Angeline Premila

Liliane Derden

Frankie and Liam Davison

Cor Pan (left) and his partner Neeltje Tol

Richard Mayne, thought to have been a student at Leeds University

Ben Pocock

Ben Pocock, a former Wellsway School pupil who was studying at Loughborough University and believed to be in his early 20s, was on board Flight MH17, Bristol Post is reporting.

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Ninik Yuriani was reportedly on the first leg of a trip back to Central Java

Yuli Hastini, John Paulissen and their two children Arjuna and Sri who were on board the Air Malaysia flight